Gate-opener.



J. A. STEPHENSON.

GATE OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Attorneys nuwAsl-llNoTcu n c JAMES ALLEN STEPHENSON, OF ASHBYBURG, KENTUCKY.

GATE-OPENER.

incense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application filed Mayfi, 1915. Serial No. 26,855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. STEPHEN- sow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashbyburg, in thecounty of Hopkins and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Gate-Openenof which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of thisapplication is a gate, and one object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby, after the gate has been moved to a partially'opened position, the gate, by a proper manipulation of a Weight which is assembled with the gate, may either be returned to a closed position, or be swung to a more widely opened position.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel structure whereby the gate may be firmly braced against movement when the gate is in a closed position or man open position. I i

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

WVith the above and other objects in View which will appear as the, description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of ,parts andin the details of construction hereinafter described I and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the invention in top plan, parts being broken away; Fig. 2 shows the invention in side elevation, parts being broken away and sectioned; Fig. 3 is a fragmental rear elevation; Fig. 4 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a gate 1 of any desired construction the numeral 2 indicating agate post. Projecting from the gate post 2 is a horizontal support 3 in the form of a rod or arm, in which is rotatably received, a primary pivot pin 4 assembled with the upper portion of the gate 1, intermediate the ends of the gate. Mounted in a suitable base 6 is a pivot pin 5, disposed in vertical alinement with the pivot pin 4, the pivot pin 5 engaging the lower portion of the gate.

Located to one side of the gate post 2 is a weight guide in the form of a vertical post a brace 9 is carried by the upper end of the weight guiding brace 9 being carried by the primary .pivot element 4 whichis assembled with the upper portion oifthe gate 1.

Mounted to reciprocate vertically on the post 7 1s a weight14 providedin one side witha recess 15 across which extends a pin 16 rpivotally supporting one end of a rigid connectlng rod 17, the other end of which is recelved by a secondary pivot elementiin the form of an eye 18' mountedon "the rear end of the .gatefl.

dournaledfor rotation ina recess in the brace 8 is a sheave 11, a sheave 12 beingsimllar'ly mounted in a recess in the brace 9. A flexible element 20 is trained around the sheave 1'2, and the lower end of the flexible element 20 is connected tothe wieght .14. A flexible element {21 is trained around the sheave 11, the lower end of the ifienible element being secured to the weight 14. The flexible elements '20 and 21 extend in opposite directiona-the v.flexible :element 21 being engaged with a guide pulley 21 mounted on the brace 8 above the gate post 2.

Presupposing that the gate 1 is in a closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 (in solid line) let it be supposed that either of the flexible elements 20 or 21 is drawn upon. Under such circumstances, the weight 14 is elevated and slides vertically in an upward direction along the post 7. The connection 17 exerts a pull on the gate 1 and swings the gate into the dotted line position indicated by the reference character X in Fig. 4, the primary pivot element 4, the secondary pivot element 18 and the post 7 being in alinement. If the weight 14 is released before the sec ondary pivot element 18 has moved into alinement with the pivot element 4 and post 7, then the weight 14 will descend and will swing the gate 1 back into a closed position. However, if the swinging movement of the gate 1 is continued until the secondary pivot element 18 has passed by the line connecting the pivot element 4 with the post 7, the weight 14, when released, will move downwardly along the post 7, and will swing the gate to a completely opened position, as indicated by the dotted line showing Y in post 7, the otherend ofithe by the reference character Y in Fig. .4, the

gate may be moved to a fullyclosed position 7 by a proper manipulation ofthe weight 14,

through the medium of either of the flexible elements or 21.

7 Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is i I 1. In a device of the class described, a

' gate; a primary pivot element supporting the gate intermediate the ends of the gate; a weight guide; a weight slidable on the guide; a combined tension andthrust connection pivoted to the weight; 'a secondary pivot element uniting the connection with the inner end of the gate; and means 'for manipulating the Weight; the weight being releasable when the secondary pivot element is on one side of a line connecting the prie mary pivot element and the support thereby to swing the gate from a partially opened position to a closed position, and being releasable when the secondary pivot element is V on the other side of said line thereby to swing the gate froma partially opened positionv to a fully opened position.

2. In a device of the class described, a

gate; a primary pivot element supporting Copies 6r this patent may be obtained for the gate intermediate the ends of the gate; a weight guide; a weight slidable on the guide; a combined tension and thrust c011- nection pivoted to the Weight; a secondary pivot element uniting the connectionwith the inner end of the gate, and means for 'manipulating the weight, the weight being releasable when the secondary pivot element is on one side of a line connecting the primary pivot element and the support thereby to swing the gate from a partially opened position to a closed'position, an dibeing releasable when the secondary pivot elementis onthe other side of said line thereby to swing the gate from a partially opened ,p'osi tion to a fully opened position; and a stop limiting the downward movement of the weight, whereby the connection will act as a brace for the gate when the same is in a closed position or in a fully opened position.

3' In a device of the class described, a gate; 'means for pivotally supporting the gate intermediate its ends; a weight guide a weight mounted to slide in a substantially yertical direction on the weight guide; a.

rigid connection; means for pivoting the connectlon to the weight; means for pivotmg the, connection to the inner end of the gate; means for manipulating the weight.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as' my' own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ALLEN STEPHENSON.

Witnesses: i v E. R. ALLEN,

- W. W. ASHBY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

